Is there a way to animate parts of a net?
The easiest way I know how to do this is with shape keys.
In object mode, select the object, go to its Data Properties and click on the '+' icon below shape keys to create a new &quot;Basis&quot; shape key.
Click again to create a new key.
Rename this to something meaningful.  I called mine &quot;folded up&quot;
Make sure the new key is selected.
In edit mode move the vertices into the new final position.
Now, in object mode, the &quot;Value&quot; field can be used for key frames.
Select a frame in the playback window.
Set &quot;Value&quot; to something between 0 and 1.
Hover over it and right click.
Select &quot;Insert Keyframe&quot;/ 
Assign both the top and the bottom to a vertex group:


And add that vertex group as a Pin Group in cloth settings:

For the result below, the net was additionally subdivided (&quot;simple&quot; mode, 2 levels) before the cloth modifier.